Dylan Dykes faced uncertainty over his future as the previous campaign reached its climax, but the Ross County midfielder is eager to repay the faith shown in him by Staggies co-managers Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson.
Dykes has made just two first team appearances for County, but was handed a new one-year contract earlier this summer following a loan spell with League 1 side Stranraer in the second half of last season.
The 22-year-old, who joined the Dingwall club in 2016 after his release by Rangers, was part of Kettlewell’s under-20s side that won the Development League just over 12 months ago.
Dykes is hopeful Kettlewell and former Staggies academy director Ferguson can get the best out of him this term, and he said: “I just need to try and kick on now. The managers know what I can do.
“Hopefully I can earn my chance this season and repay the faith they’ve shown in me, go out and perform.
“When they were announced as the management team, I was really excited. I was still on loan at Stranraer and couldn’t play when I came back.
“I was just itching to show I was worthy of a contract. When they told me it was getting renewed, I was just itching to get back. Hopefully this is the season I can show what I can do.”
Dykes made 14 appearances during his stint with Stranraer, which was part of his rehabilitation following a spell on the sidelines with a foot injury at the start of last season, and although he has mixed feelings about his spell at Stair Park he reckons it will be of benefit to his prospects with County.
He added: “Last season, I broke a metatarsal in my foot, not long after I got my chance in the team.
“I was out for two months from pre-season and that set me back a little bit. Hopefully there will be no setbacks this season and I can stay fit.
“The loan spell was a good experience. I didn’t play as much as I’d have liked, but I played a few games and it was good to see what that league was like.
“I’ve come back here and I’m going to try to use that experience to try to help Ross County.”
